15 Actors Cast to Play Family Members Due to Their Strong Resemblance

15 Times Family Members of Actors Took On Their Roles

 

Ever find an old family photo that features a relative who resembles you so closely it’s uncanny? In the entertainment world, some actors have looked so much like their famous relatives that they have been cast to portray them on screen. Here is a list of 15 actors who had their family members step into their roles.

 

1. Ralph Fiennes, known for representing Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter films from 2005 to 2011, saw his nephew, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, take on the role of young Tom Riddle in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in 2009. Their striking similarities are evident in side-by-side images.

2. Karen Gillan played the role of Amy Pond on Doctor Who between 2010 and 2013. During that time, her cousin Caitlin Blackwood portrayed younger Amy. Interestingly, they didn’t meet in person until a read-through on set, and the resemblance was immediately recognized.

 

3. Britney Spears starred in Crossroads, released in 2002, where her sister Jamie Lynn Spears appeared as the younger version of her character, Lucy Wagner, in the opening scene. The family resemblance is clear from the photographs.

 

4. Demi Lovato took on the role of Sonny Munroe in the Disney Channel show Sonny with a Chance from 2009 to 2011. In a fun cameo, her younger sister Madison De La Garza played young Sonny in 2009, and the resemblance is striking in stills from the show.

 

5. Dakota Fanning played 6-year-old Lucy Diamond Dawson in I Am Sam. In this film, Dakota’s younger sister, Elle Fanning, was cast as 2-year-old Lucy, showcasing their family likeness in notable moments from the movie.

 

6. The Fanning sisters also shared screen time in the 2002 SYFY miniseries Taken, where Dakota played Allie Keys and Elle portrayed a 3-year-old version. Their similar features made it easy for audiences to connect the two roles.

 

7. Laverne Cox portrayed Sophia Burset on Orange Is the New Black from 2013 to 2019. Her twin brother, M. Lamar, was cast to play Sophia in flashbacks before her transition, reflecting their strong familial resemblance.

 

8. Georgie Henley played Lucy Pevensie in The Chronicles of Narnia movies from 2005 to 2010, while her older sister, Rachael Henley, took on the role of a grown-up Lucy, highlighting their physical similarities.

 

9. In the 1994 film Richie Rich, Macaulay Culkin played the title character, while his younger brother, Rory Culkin, appeared as young Richie Rich, effectively showcasing their brotherly resemblance in the movie.

 

10. Kieran Culkin took on the role of Jason “Igby” Slocumb Jr. in Igby Goes Down (2002), sharing the screen with his younger brother, Rory, who played 10-year-old Igby, allowing them to share a vivid connection on film.

 

11. In Hawkeye and the upcoming Echo series, Alaqua Cox plays Maya Lopez, while her cousin Darnell Besaw was cast as young Maya, capturing their family likeness in behind-the-scenes pictures.

 

12. Oscar Isaac, known for playing Marc Spector and Steven Grant in Moon Knight, featured his younger brother Michael Benjamin Hernandez as his body double in the series. Their family ties span beyond just the screen.

 

13. Penélope Cruz portrayed Angelica in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. When she discovered her pregnancy just before filming, her sister Mónica Cruz stepped in as her body double, creating visually striking moments on screen.

 

14. Honeysuckle Weeks starred as Millie in the 1997 miniseries The Rag Nymph, while her little sister Perdita Weeks played young Millie. The images from the series reveal just how similar they look.

 

15. August Maturo took on the role of Auggie Matthews in Girl Meets World from 2014 to 2017. His little brother Ocean Maturo made a guest appearance as younger Auggie, bridging the family connection in the series beautifully.

 

Which actor family resemblance did you find the most striking? Share your thoughts in the comments.